Using AAC to Support Individuals with intellectual disability who are nonverbal

According to the 2014 National Core Indicators Data Brief, almost a quarter of individuals receiving intellectual and developmental disability (I/DD) services in the US do not communicate verbally. The brief states that “people with disabilities who communicate nonverbally have unique characteristics, service needs, and life circumstances and, as a result, are likely to face additional challenges in their ability to achieve valued outcomes….including rights, respect, inclusion, personal safety, choice, health, and employment….” that individuals who are able to communicate verbally do not face.

The report goes on to say that, compared to their peers who are able to speak, individuals whose means of communication is primarily nonverbal are:

• Less likely to be ambulatory;
• More likely to need 24-hour on-site support or supervision;
• Less likely to have good health;
• Less likely to live independently;
• Less likely to have paid employment;
• Less likely to have friends, go on dates, or be married;
• More likely to feel lonely most of the time;
• Less likely to feel safe at home or in the community, with no one to turn to for help;
• Less likely to have choice in their daily lives;
• Less likely to participate in community activities such as shopping, errands, entertainment, eating out, religious activity, and exercise.

Today, there’s a lot we can do as DSPs to help lessen these impacts to the nonspeaking individual, using the AAC device that is already in our pocket, even if they don’t use a device themselves.

• You can use it in community settings to help the individual make choices, 
• help you obtain meaningful consent for medical care, and 
• help them make and maintain connections with others in the community, 

Improvements in communication often result in decreases of challenging and unwanted behaviors, which can really open up your nonspeaking clients world to them, and allow them to participate in community in ways they would not have been able to access before. 

Improvements in communication can be protective against abuse, both because a perpetrator may hesitate if they believe the crime may be reported, and because communication improvements are vital to making strong community connections which are themselves protective against abuse.